Ways in which technology has saved us during the pandemic

Kaloyan Valentinov Danchev (Калоян Валентинов Данчев) lists some of the good uses we´ve made of technology in times of pandemic, from travel and entertainment to new business opportunities.  

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of the world´s population has been forced to remain locked up and isolated. Despite attempts to reopen, almost all of our daily lives, from education and shopping, to leisure and work, happen online. Because of this, our lives are evolving faster than ever with technology, with a host of new tools emerging to entertain us, take care of our health, improve our productivity at work, and even explore overseas locations.

For Kaloyan Valentinov Danchev (Калоян Валентинов Данчев), founder and president of the luxury travel company, Fidelis Marketing Group, the picture is clear: technology is truly the best partner we have during the pandemic, keeping us sane and healthy . The questions then are: how exactly is technology helping us? And in what areas is it proving most useful? These are the answers of our expert.

Travels

One of the industries hardest hit by the pandemic has been travel, which makes sense considering that, almost overnight, many of the world´s countries severely limited domestic and international air travel, or stopped it altogether. This disruption caused all travel-related industries such as restaurants, hotels, operators and resorts, to see their regular businesses plummet, struggling to find ways to stay afloat.

Although things have not returned to normal for companies, Kaloyan Valentinov Danchev, says that for the consumer a series of technological innovations have emerged that help eliminate the desire to travel. The virtual tour is one such innovation, allowing the intrepid traveler to explore the fascinating Mayan Ruins, spooky houses like the Winchester Mansion, or even see the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, all from the comfort of their own homes.

Health care

A significant percentage of people have experienced some type of mental health disorder during the pandemic, and one report found that 40% of adults in the United States alone have struggled with mental health or substance use. This makes sense, considering the immense pressure not only from the pandemic, but also from heightened emotions in conjunctural social settings.

In addition, many people have avoided visiting a regular doctor´s office for preventive care or to seek treatment due to fear and stress caused by fear of contracting the virus. According to expert Kaloyan Valentinov Danchev, mental telehealth treatment services have exploded, thanks to specially designed infrastructure that allows patients in rural and urban populations to access affordable health care through text or video links, eliminating transmission risks almost completely.

Social life

Arguably the hardest thing about being in quarantine for so many months has been the quick end of what many use as their main outlet for stress: socializing. As such, the rate of outdated phone calls, along with the use of “meeting” apps like Zoom, is on the rise. People are also finding innovative ways to improve their experience at these outlets, such as using third-party apps to play karaoke or recreate virtual talent shows on Zoom.

For those looking for a recreational experience remotely they can do so more easily. Artists are also finding ways to survive through technology. Many comedians and actors hold theater or stand-up nights at Zoom, where the public can buy tickets and access the show using their receipt number, and in some cases the self-concert mode has been experimented with, says Kaloyan Valentinov Danchev.

Business

While the pandemic has forced hundreds of small and medium-sized businesses to close, resulting in a significant number of workers being suspended or completely fired. Many others are looking to take advantage of the pandemic and their free time to start a business.

In the opinion of Kaloyan Valentinov Danchev as a marketer, now is the perfect time to lay the foundation for a new company and, more importantly, tap into the captive audience. Fortunately, many new technologies have emerged in the last decade, such as Shopify, Squarespace, and Hootsuite, which allow startup owners to set up their own site, start selling, and manage your social media and other digital marketing strategies.

While the pandemic has drastically changed almost every aspect of our lives, there are others that are positive. Thanks to technology, we can stay in almost constant communication with our friends and family, we can find ways to be entertained, access health care with very little effort, travel and explore fascinating destinations and historical sites, and even start a business, all from the comfort of our homes.

Kaloyan Valentinov Danchev (Калоян Валентинов Данчев) is the founder and president of a luxury travel company, Fidelis Marketing Group. It is a business group that sells tourist facilities of the highest quality and tours to the best attractions of the towns where we are present.